BRATISLAVA, November 23, (WEBNOVINY) — Chairman of the largest opposition party the SMER-SD and former Prime Minister Robert Fico called on Prime Minister Iveta Radicova on Tuesday to dismiss nominees of the SaS party Jozef Boskovic and Lubor Benkovic from posts on the boards of state-run firms. Fico considers their appointment to the companies by the SaS party to be an example of partisan cronyism, as both men financially supported the SaS party before the elections.
Benkovic, who became chairman of the Supervisory Board of the state-run electricity transmission network operator SEPS, donated EUR 80,000 to the party, Fico claims. Boskovic, who was appointed to the Supervisory Board of the Bratislava airport company, contributed EUR 40,000 to the party this year. Fico alleges that they were rewarded for their donations by posts in state-run firms. SMER-SD is concerned also over the fact that Benkovic, who has a post in the most important energy company in Slovakia, is a shareholder in the firm Transenergo, active in the energy sector, too. Fico would like to know from Boskovic, who serves in bodies of the airport, if the airport’s privatization will be carried out along party lines, or along professional lines, as the government plans to sell it.
The SME daily reported about Benkovic and Boskovic, patrons of the SaS party and their appointments to the supervisory boards of state-run firms on Monday. SaS leader and Speaker of Parliament Richard Sulik said in this connection that he appointed his acquaintances to the posts because he trusts them. He remarked that both men enjoy trust within the SaS.
SITA
